No Belly Button After Hernia Repair? (photo)

Question

I am 26 years old, have two children, the youngest is two years old, I had a hernia repair when I had a breast augmentation...The first attempt resulted in a scar above my navel, because the surgeon attempted to remove my belly button piercing scar. About a month and 1/2 ago another surgeon attempted to revise the scar from the first surgeon and now I am pretty concerned as to how it is healing. It looks as though I essentially have no belly button...what can I do??

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Although there are many ways to manipulate a belly button, including suturing it to underlying tissue to deepen it, you will probably need several maneuvers to make the belly button look more natural. Find the plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of tummy tucks each year. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Richard J. Brown, MD · Answer

These can be very difficult cases. When you have a large umbilical hernia it can obliterate your belly button appearance and even compromise the blood supply. When you have your hernia fixed it can compromise the blood supply to the belly button as well. It looks like you have enough skin. I would go see a plastic surgeon and see if they can open the incision and tack the belly button back down to your abdominal wall. It looks like that is all you need from what I can see in your photos.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

An umbilicoplasty may be the procedure for you.  You should give it 6 months or so to heal before undergoing the procedure.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

The navel is present, in its proper location. The navel is just a scar to begin with, and now it is still a scar, but looks different. The main issue I see is the absence of depth. Let the area heal for at least three months. Once the scar is soft and mature, an umbilicoplasty can be done to restore a more normal appearance. 

	All the best.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

The umbilicus is nothing but a scar. Your umbilicus is still visible but has not depth to it. This can be improved by a minor surgical procedure but I would give you another 3 - 4 months to fully heal before proceeding with a revision.

Vincent P. Marin, MD, FACS · Answer

From your photos, it appears that you have to flatten from the undermining of the belly button to fix the hernia and scar. This is a challenging problem to fix and one that might be better left alone. Allow for time for the tissues to settle, before looking at another surgical option. Consult with a board-certified surgeon after 6 months to allow for complete healing.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

It appears that the depth of your belly button has gotten more shallow, probably because the attachment or stalk of the base of the belly buttoin has become partially disinserted. I would let it heal for 6 months and consider an umbilicoplasty revision if it does not change. It is fairly simple to have the belly button deepened again and look more natural.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and pictures.

	 Your concern about the appearance of the umbilicus is understandable;  it seems that it is very shallow. At this point given your recent operations, I would not suggest any further surgery. Allow the tissues to “relax”;  revisionary surgery may be possible to create more of an “inny” appearance down the line.  I would suggest that you seek consultation with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons  approximately 1 year down the line.

	 Best wishes.

Daniel Greenwald, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Your abdominal contour is nice and flat, and your umbilicus (belly button) is in the right spot. It is shallow and the scar is visible. You might want to consider a scar revision designed to remove a donut of skin and scar. Closure with a tight pursestring will create a smaller diameter umbilicus with a thinner circumferential scar.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Your belly button is plainly visible, not gone at all.  When you have needed hernia surgery and a scar revision, there may be some changes with the upper hooding but the belly button wasn't removed.

No Belly Button After Hernia Repair? (photo)

Answers (10)